Device for Receiving a Rake

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a device for receiving a rake ( 9 ), especially a sand bunker rake for a golf course, said device comprising a handle ( 11 ) and a head ( 10 ). The inventive device comprises a tube ( 1 ) that can be rammed into the ground and is sealed on the lower end thereof. The aim of the invention is to prevent water from penetrating the inventive device. To this end, a cover and/or sealing body ( 12 ) is applied to the region of the handle ( 11 ) connected to the head ( 10 ), in order to cover or seal the tube ( 1 ) rammed into the ground.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a device in accordance with the preamble to claim 1.

Such a device is known e.g. from U.S. Pat. No. 5,042,812.

In this known device, a tube-like part is inserted into the ground and contains an inner part that is closed at one end that receives the largely smooth handle of a rake. The tube-like part and the inner part are cut at an angle near their open end. This allows the tube to be stuck into the wall of a sand trap on a golf course, this tube running downward on an incline and the end of the tube running largely parallel to the wall of the trap.

In this known solution there is the problem that, when it rains, water can get into the inner part and therefore the handle of the rake also becomes wet. The water cannot flow out of the inner part and therefore stands in the inner part for a long time. This can lead to significant growth of algae, the algae also being positioned against the handle and causing the handle to become very slippery. For a golfer who has had the misfortune of hitting his ball into the sand trap and has to use the rake to smooth over his footprints, a wet and frequently slippery handle is very unpleasant.

Also known from U.S. Pat. No. 6,308,854 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,691,887 are devices of the type cited in the foregoing in which two-part chambers for receiving a rake are set into the ground. The upper part of the chamber is provided for receiving the rake head and the lower part of the chamber is provided for receiving the handle. In these known solutions, in order to prevent water from getting inside, a cover is provided that completely covers the opening of the upper chamber when it is closed.

However, these solutions suffer from the problem that such covers require significant complexity and if a cover is separate, as in U.S. Pat. No. 6,308,854, there is also the disadvantage that it is entirely possible that no one will remember to cover the upper chamber part and then water will still be able to get into the lower chamber part.

In accordance with U.S. Pat. No. 6,691,887, a pivotally mounted cover is provided that is spring-loaded into the open position and into the closed position. With this solution, as well, it is not possible to ensure that the cover will not remain open.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

Technical Problem

The goal of the invention is to avoid these disadvantages and to propose a device of the type cited in the foregoing that is distinguished by a simple structure and into which water penetration can be largely prevented.

Technical Solution

In accordance with the invention, this is attained with a device of the type cited in the foregoing using the characterizing features of claim 1.

The suggested features result in the advantage that when a rake is inserted into the device, covering or sealing of the tube is assured so that no water can get into the tube. Since as a rule golfers make sure that there are no loose impediments on the golf course, after use the rake is put away and inserted into the device, automatically sealing or covering the tube of the device.

Although a similar seal is known from above-cited U.S. Pat. No. 6,691,887, in this case the tube into which the rake is inserted is part of a relatively complex device that must be buried in the ground. In contrast to this, in accordance with the invention the rake is inserted into a tube that can be poked directly into the ground. The inventive apparatus is thus more cost-effective, both in terms of manufacture and in terms of installation on the golf course. It is also significantly more robust because it does not include a mechanism with a counter-weight. In the known apparatus, this seal is normally not used because of course an additional cover is provided over it. However, in terms of the present invention, it was determined that such a simple seal by itself is also adequate.

Furthermore, in accordance with the invention there is also the advantage that the risk of corrosion is reduced by preventing water from getting into the tube, which is made primarily of steel.

Using the features of claim 2 results in the advantage that the opening of the tube is covered by the seal so that there is no need for an additional cover. In addition, if there is anything jamming the seal it can be found in the area of the head section, which makes it easier to pull the rake out and remove the jamming material.

Using the features of claim 3 results in the advantage that, should someone forget to insert the rake into the inventive device, water only travels into the plastic sleeve, but not into the tube. It is easy to remove and empty the plastic sleeve; the tube that is stuck in the ground can remain where it is. Any gap between the interior wall of the tube and the exterior wall of the plastic sleeve is securely covered by the collar so that water is prevented from getting into the tube.

Using the features of claim 4 results in the advantage that after the collar has been removed the plastic sleeve is easy to grasp and pull out of the tube. This makes it particularly easy to empty the plastic sleeve if water has gotten into it, which can also prevent more intense algae growth.

It is advantageous to provide the features of claim 5 in order to be able to drive the tube into the ground more easily.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention shall now be explained in greater detail using the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an inventive device with inserted rake; FIG. 2 is an enlargement of the detail X of the device in accordance with FIG. 1; FIG. 3 shows a plastic sleeve with a collar; FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a collar; and FIG. 5 shows the tube with the impact body inserted.

The device has a tube 1 that is preferably made of steel and that at its lower end is securely sealed in a conical point 2. The conical point 2 facilitates poking the tube 1 into the ground at a golf course. Normally the tube will be installed just next to the edge of a sand trap.

A plastic sleeve 3 is inserted into the tube 1 and at its lower end is closed off with a floor 4 (FIG. 3). The floor 4 is usefully glued to the plastic sleeve 3.

Provided at the other end of the plastic sleeve 3 is a collar 5 that is joined to the end of the plastic sleeve 3 and overlaps the end region of the plastic sleeve 3, the plastic sleeve 3 engaging in a step 7 of the collar 5.

The collar 5 has a bore 8 whose diameter is the same as the inside diameter of the plastic sleeve 3.

The collar 5 has another step 6 in which the tube 1 engages when the plastic sleeve 3 is inserted into the tube (FIGS. 4 and 5). The collar 5 then also covers any gap between the tube 1 and the plastic sleeve 3.

The device furthermore has a rake 9 that has a rake head 10 and a handle 11.

A seal 12 is also arranged on the handle 11 of the rake 9 and has a head section 13 whose diameter exceeds that of the tube 1 and is largely the same as the exterior diameter of the collar 5. Moreover, the seal 12 has a frustoconical neck 14 that can be inserted into the plastic sleeve 3 (at the corresponding location, which is also conical).

The seal 12 is joined to the handle 11 by means of a bolt 15.

Inserting the rake 9 into the device or the plastic sleeve 3 simultaneously seals and covers the plastic sleeve 3 so that no water can get into it.

As is evident from FIG. 5, an impact body 16 is also provided that has a head part 17 and a neck part 18 that can be inserted into the tube 1. When this impact body 16 is inserted into the tube 1, it is possible to pound the tube into the ground with a hammer without deforming the tube. (Deformation would make it more difficult or even impossible to insert the plastic sleeve 3.) The impact body 16 can also be used to close the tube 1 e.g. in winter when no rake is inserted. 

1. A rake holder having a handle and a rake head, in particular a sand-trap rake for a golf course, which device has a tube that can be stuck in the ground and that is closed off at its lower end wherein attached in the area of the handle adjacent the rake head is a cover and/or seal that is provided for covering or sealing the tube stuck in the ground.
 2. The holder according to claim 1 wherein the seal has a head section that exceeds the diameter of the tube and a neck section that can be inserted into the tube.
 3. The holder according to claim 1 further comprising a plastic sleeve that is closed at one end inserted into the tube, and a collar covering the tubes the plastic sleeve, and any gap between the plastic sleeve and the tube and preferably overlapping the end of the tube.
 4. The holder according to claim 3 wherein the plastic sleeve projects out of the tube, and the collar is formed on its end with corresponding steps, the collar being positioned against the end of the plastic sleeve or joined thereto.
 5. The holder according to claim 1, characterized wherein the one end of the tube is closed off by a conical point. 